Safe Handling

In addition to incredible selection, our primary concern is the health and safety of our customers. We adhere to strict HACCP guidelines developed by the FDA to ensure the safety of our facilities and products.

Fresh Shellfish

Loose oysters, clams and mussels should be refrigerated at or below 41 F. They should be stored in open containers, covered by a damp cloth. Do not store shellfish in water, on ice that is not drained, in plastic bags or in an airtight container. Live shellfish should be closed shut; discard if open. Mussels will have extended shelf lives if the beards are kept on; the beards should be removed immediately before cooking. Shellfish should be used within 7 days from tag/harvest date.

Shucked Oysters

Shucked oyster meats should be refrigerated at or below 41 F in a closed container, and used as soon as possible, before the sell-by date on the package.

Frozen Products

Frozen products should be kept frozen at or below 0 F and thawed under refrigeration. Products should not be kept longer than two years beyond the production date. Thawed items should not be refrozen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are shellfish products safe to eat year-round?

Shellfish are said to be problematic in the summer months (May-August) for several reasons. The first is red tide, toxic algal blooms, and vibrio bacterial infections, which are most prevalent in warmer weather. However, commercially harvested shellfish are subject to regulations that shut down harvesting to eliminate such hazards.

Another problem is spawning. Oysters spawn in warm water (above 68 F for an Eastern oyster), and they lose much of their body mass to gamete production. This means the oyster doesn’t taste good, but eating one won’t hurt you. Many vendors avoid this problem by procuring shellfish from colder climates. Triploid oysters are another alternative, since they have been bred to be sterile and not spawn. Some farmers employ a state-of-the-art wet-storage system that continuously pumps sea water into tanks. When temperatures rise, the system chills the tank water to below 50 degrees, tricking the oysters into thinking it’s still winter. The tanks are also used for keeping a fresh supply of live oysters when winter storms and agricultural runoff require harvest closures.

Finally, storage and transportation in summer months used to result in faster spoilage, but with modern refrigeration techniques, you can be reassured that your shellfish have been kept at the proper temperatures.

The FDA does warn that some peo­ple are at greater risk for food­borne ill­ness, including pregnant or nursing women, young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. If you fall into one of these groups, you should avoid eating raw or partially cooked shellfish.